Bike Bayview holding group commute ride Friday morning

Bike Bayview is a loose group of residents that wants to spread the word about the benefits of cycling, and they’re inviting anyone interesting to join them Friday morning (tomorrow) for a group commute ride from the Bayview into downtown SF.

The ride will push off promptly at 8 AM from Mendell Plaza (Palou and 3rd streets) and head north before splitting at 16th street into two groups, one heading to Embarcadero and one heading into Civic Center. Each ride should take 25-30 minutes, easy enough for any skill level and perfect to bring beginning bicycle commuters into the fold.

Chris Waddling, the District 10 member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee, is just one of the many organizers of this grass roots effort. He has lived in the Bayview area for about 10 years, and regularly rides a route to downtown SF.

After a low turnout for 2013′s Bike To Work Day — only about 8-10 riders participated that day — Chris realized there was a lot of potential: “We’re trying to collaborate with as many people in as many segments of society as we can to come around (to the subject of bikes). It started around making Bike to Work Day better, but then we realized it could be bigger.”

The group plans to continue outreach efforts to residents to de-mystify bicycle commuting and de-stigmatize the idea of cycling in general: Many people, especially recent immigrants, see cycling as something to do only because driving is too expensive.

Friday, January 17, Mendell Plaza, Palou at 3rd St. Meet at 7:45AM to leave promptly at 8:00AM

Meet new people and make your commute a little more fun! All skill levels welcome.

Our route will take us north along Mendell St, left at Cargo Way along the cycletrack, then north on Illinois St.

At 16th St, we’ll split into two groups:

Group 1 will continue up Terry A. Francois Blvd, around AT&T Park, and on to the Financial District via the Embarcadero (5 miles one-way);

Group 2 will travel west on 16th St, then northwest on 7th St toward Civic Center (4.5 miles one-way).

We strongly encourage the use of bike safety helmets. Bring a light if you’ll be riding home after dark.

Update 1/17/14: this post was edited since its original publication to correct Chris Waddling’s designation as the D10 member of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) Citizens Advisory Committee.